Although intergroup contact is one of the most prominent interventions to reduce prejudice, the generalization of contact effects is still a contentious issue. This research further examined the rarely studied secondary transfer effect (STE; Pettigrew, 2009), by which contact with a primary outgroup reduces prejudice toward secondary groups that are not directly involved in the contact. Across 3 cross-sectional studies conducted in Cyprus (N = 1,653), Northern Ireland (N = 1,973), and Texas (N = 275) and 1 longitudinal study conducted in Northern Ireland (N = 411), the present research sought to systematically rule out alternative accounts of the STE and to investigate 2 potential mediating mechanisms (ingroup reappraisal and attitude generalization). Results indicated that, consistent with the STE, contact with a primary outgroup predicts attitudes toward secondary outgroups, over and above contact with the secondary outgroup, socially desirable responding, and prior attitudes. Mediation analyses found strong evidence for attitude generalization but only limited evidence for ingroup reappraisal as an underlying process. Two out of 3 tests of a reverse model, where contact with the secondary outgroup predicts attitudes toward the primary outgroup, provide further evidence for an indirect effect through attitude generalization. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed, and directions for future research are identified.

In four studies, the authors explored factors contributing to negative attitudes and behavior toward Arab immigrants in the United States. In Study 1, Americans reported greater threat from Arabs, compared to other groups (e.g., Latino, Asian). In Study 2, they tested the effects of ingroup identification and group-level narcissism on attitudes toward Arab, Latino, Asian, and European immigrants. Identification interacted with group narcissism in predicting attitudes toward Arab (but not other) immigrants, such that identification predicted negative attitudes toward Arab immigrants only at mean and high levels of group narcissism. Study 3 explored the convergent and discriminant validity of the group narcissism construct. In Study 4, the authors added a behavioral dependent measure. Again, ingroup identification predicted negative behavior and attitudes toward an Arab immigrant group (but not comparison groups) only at mean and high levels of group narcissism. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

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Although Latinas/os report that conventional psychological treatments, such as outpatient and inpatient psychological interventions, are their preferred treatment option for psychological concerns, they also seek culturally relevant religious treatments (e.g., seeing a priest, using indigenous healers, seeking faith-based treatment). Previous research has demonstrated that higher acculturation was associated with preferences for conventional psychological treatment, whereas higher enculturation was associated with preferences for culturally relevant religious treatment strategies among Latinas/os. The strong negative views toward psychological disorders held by some minority groups seem likely to affect treatment preferences and treatment seeking behavior. Levels of stigma toward psychological disorders, however, may be mitigated by level of education. The current study investigated the roles of acculturation and enculturation levels and stigma toward psychological disorders in treatment-seeking preferences in a Mexican American student sample. The results indicated that higher levels of enculturation were associated with stronger preference for culturally relevant religious treatment and no treatment, respectively. Elevated negative beliefs toward psychological disorders mediated the relationship between enculturation levels and no-treatment preferences only among first and second year college students. Acculturation had no effect on any of the treatment preferences or stigma. These findings suggest the differential role of acculturation and enculturation in treatment preferences and stigma in Mexican Americans, and also suggest the importance of implementing efforts to reduce the stigma attached to psychological disorders through education.

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